Externship Program

The externship experience provides advanced doctoral students in counseling/clinical psychology with integrative training and supervision that highlights the value of cultural humility in ethical clinical practice. Externs will engage in a variety of activities that build on their academic training and will gain a range of clinical skills that address the mental health and developmental issues of clients in a university counseling center setting. The externship is a 9-month, part-time position, that typically runs between August-May of the academic year.

Clinical Service

Externs will spend most of their time providing individual counseling and psychotherapy to students with a wide range of psycho-social and emotional concerns. The major focus of these experiences is the development of therapeutic process and conceptualization skills.  With the support of their supervisors, externs will explore a range of theoretical orientations and clinical techniques; ethical practice; therapeutic relationship building; the psychological change and healing process; cultural humility, and crisis intervention.  
During the year, externs may have opportunities to gain experience and training in the following:

• Initial Assessment
• Group Facilitation
• Brief Individual Therapy
• Comprehensive Referral
• Outreach
• Specialization Track Opportunities
  • LGBTQ+ Services: The LGBTQ+ Services Track at Loyola University Maryland’s Counseling Center is focused on outreach development, case consultation, and didactic learning. Our goal is to integrate LGBTQ identity into the components of training that already exist and add a layer of going beyond what was already established. Trainees who participate in this track will have the opportunity to learn more about the LGBTQ+ Services administrative role in counseling center settings through the learning activities listed above, with a project of creating one individual or group outreach a semester and/or contributing to the LGBTQ Resource Fair hosted annually in the Spring Semester.
  • Student Athlete Mental Health Services: The Student-Athlete Mental Health Track at Loyola University Maryland’s Counseling Center focuses on sport psychology and student-athlete mental health services. This track exposes trainees to aspects of clinical, consultative, and professional development when working with student-athletes, teams, coaches, and the broader system of a Division I college athletic department. Trainees will have flexibility when it comes to how they design and complete this track and will meet with licensed sport psychologists on staff throughout the year to discuss and explore interests. The track will include didactic seminars focused on topics related to sport psychology. Other training experiences may include (depending upon trainee schedule and availability): individual therapy/performance enhancement work with student-athletes; supporting outreach services such as the injury support group; consultation with coaches; workshops and consultation with teams; or the design of an outreach project. In line with our center’s strong emphasis on liberation and social justice, trainees will be empowered and encouraged to integrate a focus on historically marginalized populations and issues related to DEIBJ (e.g., LGBTQ+, BIPOC, first-gen, healthy masculinities, sexual violence prevention) into their training experiences.

Externs are expected to be available for 16-20 hours per week and carry an average case load of 8-12 clients.

Training and Development

At the beginning of the fall semester, externs will receive initial training and orientation sessions. During this time, externs will develop personal training goals based on an assessment of their experience and skills.

Supervision of Individual Caseload

Each extern will receive weekly, individual supervision, which is designed to support professional development, case management, and clinical skills.  Supervision is provided by a licensed psychologist on staff.

Didactic Seminars & Group Supervision

Didactic seminars will be offered by members of our multidisciplinary team that highlight clinical areas such as risk assessment and intervention, ethical practice, cultural humility and awareness, body image, and more. Topics explored will consider themes relevant to generalist practice and university counseling center populations. Group supervision will also be provided by a member of the clinical staff to provide an opportunity for case presentation and group consultation.

Cultural Journal Reflections

Externs will also complete Cultural Journals once a month intended to explore and further develop various identities (e.g., religious, social class, ethnic, gender, racial, etc.) throughout the externship year. Each month a written reflection of one of these social group memberships will be submitted and feedback for further exploration will be provided. During monthly meetings with the Associate Director of Social Justice, externs will reflect on their exploration and deepen the understanding of their written perspective.

Administrative Duties

Externs will be expected to complete administrative tasks in a timely manner and will consult with their clinical supervisors about the appropriate amount of time needed for these tasks. Administrative responsibilities include case management, documentation, and preparation for supervision and case conference.

Eligibility

Candidates should be advanced doctoral students with at least two years of supervised clinical experience. Candidates should have completed preliminary course work including counseling skills, theories, ethics, and diversity issues. We also encourage potential candidates to consider the potential for multiple relationships. Please review our statement on multiple relationships for more information. Additionally, incoming externs will be asked to complete a background check prior to the start of training.

Application Procedure

The 2024-2025 recruitment cycle is now closed. Please revisit our website in November 2024 for 2025-2026 externship application timelines. Application materials can be faxed to 410-617-2001 or emailed to Kourtney Bennett, PhD, Associate Director for Training, at kbennett@loyola.edu. 

Application for this Advanced Externship requires the following completed documents:

1. Cover letter;
2. Curriculum vitae;
3. A graduate transcript (unofficial acceptable)
4. * Two recommendation letters from clinical supervisors that include information that highlights the following areas:
a) case conceptualization, b) awareness of and ability to respond to themes of equity and inclusion, c) ethical practice, d) use of supervision, and e) workplace engagement/case management. We also appreciate consideration of areas for growth as we work to ensure our training program meets the needs of potential trainees.

* Recommendations should be submitted directly from the recommender by fax to 410-617-2001 or emailed to kbennett@loyola.edu.

Please Note: We welcome applicants from DC Consortium schools, however we are unable to hold offers until the DC Consortium deadline due to the range of applications we receive from schools outside of the DC Metro area.